Chapter 477
In that moment, Lauren saw everything with painful clarity. Even though she shared the Brennan name with Cecilia, which made her sound so much closer to the family, she was still just the adopted daughter.
And even that title came with a hollow ring-she hadn’t been chosen by Cecilia herself, but rather accepted by the Brennans as Cecilia’s stand-in. Cecilia had never truly acknowledged her.
What did it matter how kind they acted toward her on ordinary days? The moment Anastasia entered the picture, Lauren was pushed aside, like she barely existed.
Anastasia caught Lauren’s gloomy expression out of the corner of her eye, but couldn’t be bothered to pay her any mind. Instead, she took the delicate bracelet her grandmother had just given her, slipping it on with obvious care. “Thank you, Grandma.”
“Silly girl, what’s there to thank me for?” Mrs. Brennan, her eyes shining with emotion, reached out and gently stroked Anastasia’s hair. “All these years, I’ve only ever given you this one thing.”
Sensing the sadness in the air, Anastasia quickly tried to change the subject. “Grandma, what brings you here today?”
“Lauren said she wanted to have a family portrait taken, so I came along to help pick out the photographer and look at some samples Mrs. Brennan’s voice suddenly caught in her throat.
A family portrait—she ought to be taking it with her Ana. What was the point of having one without her, posing with Lauren instead?
In an instant, all enthusiasm for the portrait vanished. She’d only agreed because Lauren had seemed so down lately, and when Lauren suggested it, she hadn’t the heart to refuse. But now, seeing her Ana again, she realized how wrong it felt.
“Forget it. We’ll take the photo another time,” she said, her tone final. She’d wait until her Ana returned to the Brennan family, and then they’d do it properly.
Winni, standing behind, immediately glanced at Lauren’s face. Seeing Lauren biting her lip, her expression humiliated and wounded, Winni’s heart ached for her. She wanted to say something to her mother-in-law, but the words stuck in her throat.
“So, what was all the commotion earlier? Did someone upset you?” Mrs. Brennan asked, her concern shifting to Anastasia.
Anastasia didn’t bother to shield Lauren. She replied plainly, “I was here with Harrison to take our engagement photos. Mr. David-the photographer-was personally invited by Harrison. But just now, he and Lauren tried to throw me out, saying I wasn’t worthy of his services.”
She gave her grandmother a reassuring smile. “But don’t worry, Grandma. My fiancé’s here, and he’d never let anyone bully me.”
Mrs. Brennan’s face darkened with anger. Her Ana, being treated like that? She turned to Lauren, suspicion creasing her brow.
Didn’t Lauren know Anastasia? Why would she side with someone against her?
Juliet, equally shocked by what she’d heard, turned to Lauren. “Didn’t you tell us Mr. David was here for you?”
Even Winni looked at Lauren in confusion.
After all, it was David himself who’d greeted them when they arrived. Once they learned who he was,
they’d all been surprised-he wamet
reputed to be one of the top
photographers, notoriously difficult to book, and they hadn’t even made an appointment. How had he ended up personally serving them?
Lauren had brushed off their questions, saying that David had been shooting overseas but made a
special trip back just because she
wanted a family portrait Shed claimed they were friends
In other words, David was there specifically for her-or so she’d led everyone to believe.
Winni had even praised Lauren’s ability to make friends, proud of the girl she’d helped raise.
But now, it turned out David was actually invited by Harrison, for Anastasia?
All eyes turned to Lauren, and she stiffened. Was Anastasia doing this on purpose, just to humiliate her?
Lauren’s glare almost fell on Anastasia, but she caught herself in time, afraid the Brennans would see her resentment.
“Juliet, I-don’t know she
stammered awkwardly. “David never
told me any of this. I just assumed
he’d come back for me I guess
was wrong.” Follow current nová´‡ls on